Phil Wilson Bow River in ELMAX

[Ankerson]

This will be a full review with photos. I gave this knife a real workout over the past 2 days cutting rope, wood and cardboard. ELMAX is an excellent steel and holds an edge very well and gets very sharp.

Lets start with the Specs.

Bow River light to med duty skinner.

Blade 4", .150" thick, Trailing Point, flat ground with distal taper optimised for cutting and edge retention

Steel is ELMAX at 62 RC.

Green Micarta with Blue G10 spacer

Weight is 3.6 ounces


As you can see here it's a highly optimised design over years of real world use and testing for max performance.

Here you can see how the whole knife tapers from the butt to the tip of the blade. Notice the distal tapered blade.

The next two photos show the edge that was used in all the tests, 32 degrees inclusive and polished.

 

[Ankerson]

Now for the testing.

I started out slicing 5/8" Manila rope with Phil's edge and then my polished edge. ELMAX did very well and cut a lot of rope, I stopped at 20 LBS of down force. I didn't wear a glove because I wanted to test how comfortable the knife was under hard cutting. My hand never hurt during or after testing.

All photos were taken this morning after the knife was cleaned up and sharpened. Testing was done on Fri and Sat.

The next two photos show the knife with the cut rope, this is a lot of rope that was cut.

Next was wood whittling to test the edge strength and cutting ability. I whittled for about 15 mins and the knife would still shave hair and slice newspaper like it wasn't even there. It sliced the wood very well taking either very thin slices or thicker ones to push the edge.

The next two photos show the Knife after whittling.

The last was cardboard, I cut cardboard to test retention and edge stability. ELMAX did very well and cut a lot of cardboard and the edge held up great.

The next 2 photos are the cardboard, some was double thick and the rest was single, I cut more single to make up for running out of the thick stuff.

Conclusion:

Overall an excellent knife, Phil Wilson does wonders with his HT and blade grinds. This model would be great at skinning and cleaning game, in the kitchen and just about anything else you would want to do. It's very well balanced and comfortable even when hard cutting. ELMAX is an excellent steel that takes a very sharp fine edge and very easy to sharpen and maintain.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Jim,

Nice review and great photos.

I must take exception with Phil's designs being "simple". They may appear to be simple, but they are very very refined and have been formed by many years of real world experience.

sal

 

[Ankerson]

Hi Jim,

Nice review and great photos.

I must take exception with Phil's designs being "simple". They may appear to be simple, but they are very very refined and have been formed by many years of real world experience.

sal

Hi Sal,

Oh believe me I know, his knives are excellent and as you say very well defined and thought out. They are optimised so well to give the max performance that is possible.

I will edit it though.

 

[Sal Glesser]

No need to edit. I was just givin' you some sh*t.

sal

 

[Ankerson]

No need to edit. I was just givin' you some sh*t.

sal

Hi Sal,

I know you were, but you were right and made a good point.

 

[STR]

So jealous!

Another fine example of superb craftsmanship there. So Jim, Elmax or M390? Which do you think is the better edge keeper and cutter?

STR

 

[Ankerson]

So jealous!

Another fine example of superb craftsmanship there. So Jim, Elmax or M390? Which do you think is the better edge keeper and cutter?

STR

From my testing M390 will hold an edge longer and it's a more agressive cutter because it has more carbides in it.

ELMAX is in the ZDP range and M390 is in the S90V range.

 

[TALON158]

Ankerson, appreciate your reviews. Ive been reading reviews on the net for years, yours is a refreshing change, no BS and no hype.
How would you rate ELMAX to S30V?
Thanks

 

[Ankerson]

Ankerson, appreciate your reviews. Ive been reading reviews on the net for years, yours is a refreshing change, no BS and no hype.
How would you rate ELMAX to S30V?
Thanks

ELMAX is in the ZDP-189 range so it will do better than S30V.

 

[DennisStrickland]

jim we know zdp will corrode a little if not cleaned & lightly oiled. i'm a 1095 man although i have many alphabet knives so patinas are actually preferred. do you think elmax is more stainless than zdp?
dennis

 

[Ankerson]

jim we know zdp will corrode a little if not cleaned & lightly oiled. i'm a 1095 man although i have many alphabet knives so patinas are actually preferred. do you think elmax is more stainless than zdp?
dennis

Yes it should be, it was developed for the Plastics industry so being very corrosion resistant is a requirement.

 

[Edwood7]

Kind of looks like my Winkler knives belt knife. I love that handle shape. Grate review.

 

[sodak]

From my testing M390 will hold an edge longer and it's a more agressive cutter because it has more carbides in it.

ELMAX is in the ZDP range and M390 is in the S90V range.

Wait until you try the 10V. Heh heh heh....

 

[Ankerson]

Wait until you try the 10V. Heh heh heh....

I already have a very good idea.

 

[knarfeng]

"Simple" or "refined", that's a great looking knife.

Thanks for the review.

 

[Buffalohump]

Great reviews Jim, does Phil make any folders?

 

[Mike157]

Jim,
Thanks for another great test/review. And thanks to your practical and straight forward methods combined with the metallurgy (I think this is an appropriate use of the term) discussions, I feel like I'm starting to gain some real world knowledge of what can be expected from the different steels when treated properly - not to mention guiding my buying habits going forward. And to state the obvious, if you're not somehow compensated by Phil, you out to be. I've always liked his work but thanks to you I'm seriously saving for one of his now.

Your sharpening discussions are very helpful also.

Thanks. Mike

 

[effer]

Very nice knife.

 

[Ankerson]

Great reviews Jim, does Phil make any folders?

No, he doesn't make folders.

Thanks.

Jim,
Thanks for another great test/review. And thanks to your practical and straight forward methods combined with the metallurgy (I think this is an appropriate use of the term) discussions, I feel like I'm starting to gain some real world knowledge of what can be expected from the different steels when treated properly - not to mention guiding my buying habits going forward. And to state the obvious, if you're not somehow compensated by Phil, you out to be. I've always liked his work but thanks to you I'm seriously saving for one of his now.

Your sharpening discussions are very helpful also.

Thanks. Mike

Thanks.

Very nice knife.

Thanks.